Compare towns
Plainville vs Union vs Chaplin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plainville has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Union has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
Chaplin has the most people working from home (18.1%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Plainville | Union | Chaplin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,551Highest |
944Lowest |
2,070 |
| Median age | 44.3±1.5 8% above CT |
49.9±4.3Highest 21% above CT |
43.7±4.8Lowest 6% above CT |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.3Lowest CT: 20.2% |
16.9%±4.3Highest CT: 20.2% |
15.7%±4.2 CT: 20.2% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.8Lowest CT: 18.5% |
24.5%±2.6Highest CT: 18.5% |
20.9%±4.4 CT: 18.5% |
| Union and Chaplin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30%Highest CT: 42.5% |
24%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
25.4% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.6 CT: 7.1% |
5%±3.3Lowest CT: 7.1% |
10.1%±6.2Highest CT: 7.1% |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,343±$7kLowest 12% below CT |
$88,958±$14k 7% below CT |
$97,846±$14kHighest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$14kLowest 31% below CT |
$330,400±$26kHighest 10% below CT |
$255,200±$24k 30% below CT |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,126±$147Lowest 24% below CT |
— | $1,473±$275Highest about the CT average |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,798Highest 28% below CT |
$4,793 28% below CT |
$4,524Lowest 32% below CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.4 CT: 52.6% |
90%±64.7Highest CT: 52.6% |
33.6%±27.7Lowest CT: 52.6% |
| Union and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.5%Highest CT: 10% |
5.7% CT: 10% |
5.4%Lowest CT: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.7%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
92.9%Highest CT: 66.5% |
82.9% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 4 yrs newer than CT |
1976 9 yrs newer than CT |
1979Highest 12 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 20% below CT |
32 min 20% above CT |
32 minHighest 22% above CT |
| Work from home | 10.7%±2 CT: 16% |
9%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
18.1%±10Highest CT: 16% |
| Chaplin and Plainville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #89 of 149 in CT | — | — |
| School district | Judicial Centers · Plainville School District | Union School District | Chaplin School District · Regional School District 11 |
| High school in town | Plainville High School | None in town | Parish Hill High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 7.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.